The Dragon's Jester

Chapter 4

As the sun rose into the sky, the light poured through the gap between the curtains of Kithara's and Khaota's room, landing directly over the latter's eyes. Khaota groaned softly, lying their arm over their eyes to try and block the sun out, but in their state of half-awake-ness they felt something sharp against the bottom of their chin. Using their hand to block out the sun, they opened their eyes to see an all-too-familiar painted face.

"Morning." She said, grinning widely, her eyes so open it looked like they would fall out her head. She had clearly been awake for a while.

"What are you holding?" Khaota asked, their voice low and gruff.

"My crossbow."

"I think you should look at that wheel of yours." They groaned, closing their eyes again lazily.

"I did. Get the clown while they're sleeping, just like last time. Load the weapon, don't you pout. Bolt goes in, joy comes out!"

Khaota furrowed their brows, thinking over what the clown was trying to say. Before they could respond, Kithara giggled and spoke in a hushed whisper. Not to Khaota, but to the 'voices'.

"I want to. They'd look so pretty. I wonder if it would go all the way through the other side.."

They quickly realised that Kithara was fully planning on shooting them. They groaned once again and grabbed the crossbow while Kithara was talking, yanking it out of her grip, then sluggishly tossing it aside and rolling onto their stomach. 

"Hey! Mean!"

"Shut up...it's too early for you trying to kill me."

"Wheel said to!"

"I thought that thing calmed you down?"

"It makes all the voices go shhhhh. All quiet and peaceful. I'm back there. Just me and the wheel. They'll take it away again. I won't let them take it away again. Never never never never."

Khaota turned over once again to look at Kithara. She was such an odd creature. Maybe they'd bitten off more than they could chew this time. Was she worth the risk, even if she was a useful weapon? If the sword you wield stabs you back, is it worth it? Again, they groaned in frustration. Khaota reluctantly sat up and rubbed their face. Their red hair was an unkept mess with clumps of it tangled and going in all directions.

"What did you call us? Like as a team?"

"We're best friends!"

"Right, that, whatever. Well, can we make a rule where 'best friends' try not to kill each other?" 

"Okay!"

"Great. That's a new rule forever now."

"Is it breakfast time now?"

"Fine."

Kithara squealed with excitement and clapped her hands happily. Khaota rolled their eyes and gestured vaguely to the bathroom, telling Kithara to get washed up while they put their shirt back on and tidied their hair up. The pair swapped places to finish getting ready before Khaota began to gather their things to leave. 

"Wait, we're going? But what about breakfast?"

"Fine, raid the kitchen. Eat what you find."

Kithara shrugged and climbed up onto the countertops, making a complete and utter mess, throwing uninteresting items across the room as she investigated the cupboards. Khaota turned to look at her once they'd finished packing and leaned against the bedside table.

"So you're about human size, maybe on the short side, but you don't smell like one. What are you?"

"I'm Kithara! Catch!"